President Trump’s oldest son on Monday called out Twitter for allowing high-profile users to publicly shame minors involved in a weekend episode on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that has gone viral.
Comedian Kathy Griffin, among others, tweeted out photos of students at Covington Catholic High School smiling and standing in front of a Native American man banging a drum during the Indigenous Peoples March.
“Name these kids. I want NAMES. Shame them,” Griffin tweeted Saturday. “If you think these fuckers wouldn’t dox you in a heartbeat, think again.”
Twitter followers quickly identified several students seen on video, leading to online threats and public shaming. The students have denied any malicious intent during the confrontation. Initial news reports fingered the high school students — in D.C. for Friday’s March for Life — but video that emerged later suggested the Native American man and others present helped instigate the episode.
“Conservatives have been banned from @Twitter for much less!” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted. “Attempting to dox minors is surely a violation of twitter policy?”
Trump Jr. tagged Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in his accusation.
Twitter’s bylaws state that users may not publish or post other people’s private information without their express authorization and permission.
A first-time violation leads to removal of the offending tweet, and potentially getting locked out of an account. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
A representative from Twitter declined to comment directly on Griffin’s tweets encouraging her followers to ‘dox’ the students.
Griffin has previously tangled with the Trump family. On May 30, 2017, Griffin posted a video of herself holding a mask styled to look like the severed, bloody head of President Trump. After immense public backlash, Griffin later took down the image and apologized publicly for the photo. She was subsequently fired by CNN from its New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper.
